Earth Year 2016

Each year, the Institute community hosts an annual week-long celebration for Earth Day, highlighting a range of sustainability themes both on campus and globally.

The idea for Earth Week was born from a group of environmental policy graduate students wanting to raise awareness about sustainability issues. This year Earth Week's mission is to catalyze the Institute community to be the sustainable solution for the whole year! The vision of Earth Year is to actively educate our campus and the wider Monterey community to cultivate environmental leadership, innovation, and cultural change throughout the year to reach MIIS carbon neutrality goal.

Monday, April 18

Event: Apps For Earth: Help the Planet. One app at a time

Time & Location: All Day

Details: Apple has teamed up with some of the biggest apps in its store, including Angry Birds 2, Candy Crush and Cut the Rope: Magic, to help improve the Earth with charity WWF. All of the proceeds from those apps will go towards conservation projects until April 29, and App Store customers will also be able to engage with exclusive content for the campaign. Open Apps For Earth in iTunes App Store or visit for more details: http://www.apple.com/ and click on Apps For Earth

Tuesday, April 19

Event: Earth Year 2016 Book Talk and Author Signing

Time & Location: 12:00-1:00pm in MIIS Library

Details: Come hear MIIS Professor Michael McGinnis talk about his new book, “Science and Sensibility: Negotiating an Ecology of Place”. McGinnis will discuss his research and highlight the importance of community and a sense of place in addressing complex social and ecological problems. If you'd like to have a book signed, please purchase a copy.

Event: Earth Year 2016 Trivia Night

Time & Location: 7:00-8:15pm at Bakai Wine and Tapas (420 Tyler St.)

Details: Come to Bakai Wine and Tapas to celebrate Earth Week and test out your trivia skills! Everyone will receive a 20% discount on food and appetizers, and the first five teams to sign up get a free drink. Sign up by emailing bgrimmig@miis.edu. Max. 4 people per team, with up to 10 teams participating. The winning team will receive a $25 gift card to a Monterey restaurant.

Wednesday, April 20

Event: Paddle On! Speaker Event

Time & Location: 6:00-7:30pm in MG100

Details: Alyssum Pohl, a MIIS alumnus, will be visiting Monterey for our Earth Week line-up and will be speaking on her experience of kayaking the Mississippi River while collecting and documenting plastic waste along the river. Come join us at MIIS on April 20th to hear Alyssum Pohl speak on this important topic!

Thursday, April 21

Event: Earth Year 2016 Campus Fair

Time & Location: 11:30-3pm in Sansom Courtyard

Details: This year's Earth Year 2016 Campus Fair will include a range of FREE activities, including top chef food competitions, bike blender and bike repair workshop, more games, and prizes!! Be sure to participate and help cultivate environmental leadership, innovation, and cultural change throughout the year to reach the MIIS carbon neutrality goal.

Event: Sonic Sea Film Screening

Time & Location: 6-8pm in Irvine Auditorium

Details: The oceans are a sonic symphony. Sound is essential to the survival and prosperity of marine life. But man-made ocean noise is threatening this fragile world. Sonic Sea is a film about protecting life in our waters from the destructive effects of oceanic noise pollution. Join us for a free film screening followed by a panel discussion including Michael Jasny, Director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council and other ocean leaders. Registration is required for this event.

Friday, April 22

Event: ODRC Hike in Andrew Molera *POSTPONED*

Time & Location:*POSTPONED* TBA

Details: Get read to explore some of Big Sur's finest beach hikes and cliff bluffs with spectacular panoramic views! Snacks, water, and fun are all included to enjoy the great outdoors with the MIIS ODRC club.

Event: Whole Foods Vegan Tour

Time & Location: 4-5pm at Whole Foods in Del Monte Shopping Center

Details: Professor Jason Scorse will be giving a vegan tour of Whole Foods on Earth Day, April 22nd at 4:00 that is open to everyone. Come learn from a Whole Foods manager and Professor Scorse about their healthy and tasty vegan products and environmental benefits. If interested you can meet outside the Whole Foods in Monterey at 4:00. Expect to have a good time!

Monday, April 25

Event: Solar Energy and Climate Change

Time & Location: 7:00-8:30pm in Irvine Auditorium

Details: The world of energy is changing - from ancient fossil energy to emerging solar power. More than any other issue, energy will shape the future of human civilization. Robert Stayton, author of "Power Shift", will discuss the urgent transition from fossil fuels to solar power.